30 SPOKT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



after them. At first, the turkeys looked at us com- 

 ing on without budging an inch ; they only ceased 

 their play and seemed upon the watch. When we 

 had reached to within fifty yards of the flock, one 

 of the largest birds uttered a cry, which was the 

 signal for a general dispersion : we fired, and three 

 birds were bagged. Our dogs immediately dashed 

 in pursuit of the birds, which were scattered in all 

 directions, but we recalled them with a whistle ; and 

 whilst we were reloading, the Bed Skin fastened 

 our three victims together by the feet and threw 

 them across his shoulders. 



The wind was from the north, but the air was 

 warm and genial, so we determined • to hunt our 

 game against the wind, so as to have a better chance 

 of approaching it. We passed on to the right 

 Avithoiit losing a moment, and advanced towards the 

 nearest lot of turkeys. Thej had flown about a hun- 

 dred and fifty yards, and then trotted off rapidly to- 

 wards the deep grass. On coming up to the spot where 

 we had seen them disappear, our dogs recovered the 

 scent; but although they hunted diligently they 

 could not recover the quarry. There was a thick 

 clump of arbutus and brambles about twelve feet 

 high, which seemed to bother the dogs. After stand- 

 ing there some time, the Eed Skin approached and 

 said, in his picturesque language, " The black bird 

 is cunning, and wishes to deceive the pale-face. He 

 has got upon wooden legs, so as to leave no foot- 



